Festa della sensa in Venice

During Festa della Sensa in Venice (Feast of the Ascension) visitors relive the age-old history of the Serenissima Republic and its intimate relationship with the Sea.The Festa della Sensa in Venice or Ascension of Christ was a feast day for the Republic of Venice. “Sensa” in the Venetian dialect means “Ascension”. It commemorates two important events for the Republic happened in the doges’ ancient times. To highlight the dominion of the Serenissima over the sea, in the past the Feast ended with a type of propitiatory rite: on reaching the lagoon inlet, the Doge would throw a gold ring into the water.

Festa della Sensa in Venice today

Thanks to activities organized by the Festa della Sensa in Venice committee, Venice has been celebrating the event since 1965, with a water parade of traditional rowing boats. At the head of the parade is the “Serenissima”, a boat carrying the Mayor and other city dignitaries. Still today the marriage rites with the sea are celebrated through an evocative ceremony, of a ring being launched into the water, and the religious ceremony afterwards, at the church of San Nicolò on the Lido.

Today, the Festa della Sensa in Venice is a wonderful opportunity for people from all over the world that want to fall in love with the ancient traditions of Venice and understand its deep relationship with the sea.